Libya’s Khoms: From strategic commercial port to mercenary and weapons transport station

Ahmed Adel

In light of the existing tensions in the eastern Mediterranean region, Turkey has taken advantage in an attempt to control Libya’s ports, especially the port of Khoms in the west of the country, as two Turkish frigates arrived on August 14 as part of Ankara’s goal to convert the Libya’s western ports into bases for its expansionist activities.

The port of Khoms is located east of Tripoli on the Mediterranean Sea and is dedicated mainly to receiving containers and goods. It is considered to be one of the best Libyan ports and was built on about 249 hectares, with a capacity of about 3.5 million tons per year.

The port was originally classified as a commercial port for passengers, goods and containers, in addition to its oil berth, but it has recently turned into a base for receiving Turkish ships, weapons and mercenaries and transporting terrorists to western Libya with Qatari support and financing.

Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesman Major General Ahmed al-Mesmari said in televised statements on Monday, August 17, that Turkey is training thousands of terrorist mercenaries in Syria to fight in the desert areas in preparation for their transfer to Libya, adding that Erdogan is taking advantage of the ceasefire period to train mercenaries.

Mesmari confirmed that the LNA monitors all Turkish movements on Libyan territory and that any Turkish attempts to transfer the battle to other regions will be confronted.

It is worth noting that, following 2011, the port in Khoms was prepared to be synonymous with the port of Misrata due to its proximity and to help in military operations when pressure increased on Misrata, in addition to the fact that the group controlling it at the present time is the terrorist Brotherhood.

Qatari Defense Minister Khalid al-Attiyah arrived in Tripoli on Monday, August 17, in conjunction with a visit by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

Attiyah’s visit confirms that there are preparations for new moves to provide mercenaries with more support, especially with the docking of two Turkish ships in the port of Khoms and its transformation into a naval base for Ankara and Doha’s multiple operations in Libya.

In December 2018, the Libyan authorities announced the seizure of a Turkish ship loaded with weapons in the port of Khoms. According to official Libyan sources, the shipment included more than two million rounds of Turkish ammunition, about 3,000 guns and 400 hunting rifles.